Murshidabad district of West Bengal is spread over an area of 5324 sq. kms. The district is a triangular tract of country, the apex being situated at north­western extremity. The district is separated from Maldah by the river Ganges on its north. On the northern and eastern boundaries of the district, there lies the district of Maldah, Rajshahi in Bangladesh and Nadia. On the south lie the districts of Burdwan and Nadia.  The districts of Dumka and the district of Birbhum bound western part of the district Murshidabad. The river Ganges or the Padma forms the northern and the eastern boundaries of the district, separating it from Maldah and Rajshahi; while the river Jalangi divides it from Nadia at its southern boundary for a considerable distance. Headquarters of this district is Berhampur.

Murshidabad district of West Bengal is spread over an area of 5324 sq. kms. The district is a triangular tract of country, the apex being situated at north­western extremity. The district is separated from Maldah by the river Ganges on its north. On the northern and eastern boundaries of the district, there lies the district of Maldah, Rajshahi in Bangladesh and Nadia. On the south lie the districts of Burdwan and Nadia.  The districts of Dumka and the district of Birbhum bound western part of the district Murshidabad. The river Ganges or the Padma forms the northern and the eastern boundaries of the district, separating it from Maldah and Rajshahi; while the river Jalangi divides it from Nadia at its southern boundary for a considerable distance. Headquarters of this district is Berhampur.

The district has a population of million (1991 census). Overall, there were 945 females per 1000 males. The Scheduled caste and scheduled Tribe contributed about 13.4% and 1.3% of the population respectively. Approximately 89.6% of the population was living in the rural area. The decennial growth rate between 1981 and 1991 was 28.04 %. The density of the population was 889 per sq. kms. Bengali and Hindi are the main language spoken in the district.

The district is at present comprises of 26 Community Development Blocks, 18 towns and 2220 villages (table 1).

Amenities available in the villages are shown in table 2.

The district is located centrally in the lower Ganga valley. The area west of Bhagirathi river exhibits an appreciable elevation. The range of Rajmahal hills slopes gently down in this tract. Cliffs and bluffs mark the eastern limits of this slope. Some hillocks covered with Sal and Mahtia trees are found here. The undulations are interspersed by rivers, which bring down sudden onrush of water during the rains as they are mostly born in the hills. Forestry has a very little importance in the economy of the district.

Table 1.  Administrative Units in District

Number (with percentage) of villages having one or more amenities in the district as per 1991 census is given below:

Table 2. Villages having one or more amenities in the district (1991 census)

The river Bhagirathi flowing from north to south through the district, divides it into two almost equal portions. The tract to the west of the river is locally known as Rarh and tract to the east as Bagri. East of the Bhagirathi, the country is low lying and alluvial with a humid climate and a fertile soil. On the western side of the river Bhagirathi, the surface is high and undulating, soil is a hard clay and climate is drier.

The river systems consists of the Ganges and its distributaries of which the most important are the Bhagirathi, Jalangi and Bhairab. Bansloi an important tributary of the Bhagirathi enters the district from Birbhum. Among minor rivers it may be mentioned the Brahmani, the Mor (or Mayurakshi or Kana) and the Kuiya, all of which flow from the west into the Dwarka. They are navigable partially during the rainy season.

The district is served by the National Highway No. 34, which connects Calcutta to Siliguri. In addition, the district has two State Highways, viz. Kuli to Morgram and Nalhati (in Birbhum district) to Morgram.

The Ranaghat-Murshidabad section of the Eastern Railway enters the district a little north of Plassey in Nadia district and runs upto Lalgola. The length within the district is 71.2 kms. The Barharwa Azimganj-Katwa section of the Eastern Railway covers 137 kilometres of length within the district. This enters the district a little south of Salar and runs northward, following the western bank of the Bhagirathi. The addition of railway line having a length of 8.69 kilometres within the district has been extended from Bar-harwa-Azimganj-Katwa section.

The river Padrna is navigable throughout the year. The rivers Bhagirathi and Jalangi are mavigable throughout the year except in the dry season.

Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of the district. . The yields per hectare of land in respect of the rice. wheat and fibres were 1124 kgs.. 2007 kgs. and 1540 bales respectively. The production of sugarcane and potato were 7375 kgs. and 14826 kgs. per hectare.

The irrigation potential of the river Ganges and its distributaries viz. Bhagirathi. Jalangi and Bhairab and the other rivulets of the district are very little.

In the state of West Bengal, silk weaving industry is practically confined to Murshidabad district and adjacent areas of Birbhum district. As a matter of fact the entire production of silk fabrics of the state goes by the name of Murshidabad silk. Sericulture industry is the principal agro-based rural industry of Murshidabad district.

Main livestock population of the district consist of cows, buffaloes and goats.

There is no mineral of any economic importance in the district. The traps may form a useful source for ballast and road metal. The silts and clays may find use in the manufacture of bricks and tiles.

Another industry in the district is ivory carving. This is an important cottage industry in the district. Among other industries, the names of Bell-metal and Brass utensils, earthenware making, smithy and carpentry, potteries and bidi may be mentioned.

The chief trade in the district is silk fabrics. The Murshidabad silk are exported not only in the different parts of the State. these products are sent to the foreign countries also. Another export product is ivory goods. Almost 99 per cent of the ivory products of the district is sold in foreign markets. The entire production of jute are exported to mills in the country. Among other things, pulses, onions, oilseeds and vege­tables constitute the main items of export from the district. Besides, the district exports handloom products, woollen garments, brass and bell-metal products, steel trunks and bidi. Of the imported materials, coal. wheat. miscellaneous industrial products, consumer goods etc. are important.

Major Government Institutions in Murshidabad District are given in table – 3.

Table 3.  Govt. and other medical institutions in Murshidabad district.

National Surveillance Programme for Communicable Diseases

Murshidabad district in West Bengal was included as a district under NSPCD in 2000-2001. The district Nodal Officer for the programme was identified. The district RRT has been formed. Once the State RRT is trained at NICD, the district RRT will be trained at Kolkata. The district Laboratory has been identified. The programme will start functioning once the training of the district RRT is complete. Weekly anf monthly reports will start coming to NICD once the programme commences. The laboratory needs strengthening The following are the members of the district RRT (table 4).

Table 4. Murshidabad district RRT.